Comhchoiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge debate -
Wednesday, 21 Jun 2023

Na Seirbhísí Uisce agus Séarachais a chuireann Uisce Éireann ar fáil i gceantair Ghaeltachta: Plé.

An Cathaoirleach

Tá cúigear comhaltaí i láthair, Seanadóirí agus Teachtaí Dála san áireamh. Leanfaidh an cruinniú seo ar aghaidh go dtí 4.30 p.m., más gá. Níl aon leithscéal faighte againn go dtí seo. B'fhéidir go mbeidh na comhaltaí eile linn sar i bhfad. Fearaim fáilte roimh chomhaltaí an chomhchoiste agus roimh aon chomhalta eile a bheidh ag freastal ar an gcruinniú, fiú siúd a bheidh ag déanamh bilocation agus a bheidh ann faoi dhó; roimh na finnéithe a bheidh ag labhairt os comhair ár gcruinniú inniu; agus roimh ár lucht féachana ar teilifís an Oireachtais. Fearaim fáilte roimh na finnéithe atá anseo linn ó Uisce Éireann: Richard Ó hEadhra, ceannasaí cumarsáide réigiúnach; an Dr. Edmond O’Reilly, bainisteoir um phleanáil sócmhainne; Des Joyce, ceannasaí um sholáthar uisce; agus Sorcha Heaphy, oifigeach saorála faisnéise.

Is mian liom a chur ar an taifead go bhfuil na finnéithe ar fad ag freastal ar an gcruinniú ó sheomra coiste 4, taobh istigh de phurláin Thithe an Oireachtais. Sula leanfaimid ar aghaidh lenár mbreathnú ar ábhar an chruinnithe seo, na seirbhísí uisce agus séarachais a chuireann Uisce Éireann ar fáil i gceantair Ghaeltachta, tá sé de dhualgas orm na rialacha agus na treoracha seo a leanas a leagan faoi bhráid na finnéithe agus na comhaltaí atá ag freastal ar an gcruinniú seo. Meabhraím do chomhaltaí, d'fhinnéithe agus do bhaill na foirne a chinntiú go bhfuil a ngutháin shoghluaiste múchta le linn an chruinnithe toisc go gcuireann siad as don chóras chraolacháin, eagarthóireachta, agus fuaime Tithe an Oireachtais. Tá sé de rogha ag comhaltaí freastal ar an gcruinniú go fisiciúil sa seomra coiste nó go fíorúil ar Microsoft Teams, mar atá á dhéanamh ag an Teachta O'Dowd, ar an gcoinníoll, i gcás cruinnithe phoiblí, gur óna n-oifigí i dTithe an Oireachtais a dhéantar sin. Is riachtanas bunreachtúil é sin. Má tá comhaltaí atá ag freastal óna n-oifigí, ba chóir dóibh a bhfíseáin a bheith ar siúl an t-am go léir a bhfuil siad ag caint agus go mbeidh siad le feiceáil ar an scáileán. Baineann an coinníoll seo le finnéithe freisin agus iad ag freastal ar chruinnithe go fíorúil. Ba chóir a chinntiú chomh maith go mbeidh na micreafóin múchta nuair nach mbeidh siad ag caint.

Cuirim ar aird na bhfinnéithe go bhfuil siad, de bhua Bhunreacht na hÉireann agus reachtaíochta araon, faoi chosaint ag lánphribhléid maidir leis an bhfianaise a thugann siad don chomhchoiste chomh fada agus atá siad lonnaithe laistigh de phurláin Thithe an Oireachtais agus an fhianaise sin á tabhairt acu. Molaim d'fhinnéithe a bheith cúramach agus fianaise á tabhairt acu. Má ordaíonn an comhchoiste dóibh éirí as fianaise a thabhairt i leith ní áirithe, ba chóir go ndéantar amhlaidh láithreach. Ordaítear dóibh gan aon fhianaise a thabhairt nach fianaise í a bhaineann le hábhar na n-imeachtaí atá á bplé ag an gcomhchoiste. Ba chóir dóibh a bheith ar an eolas go ndéanfar na ráitis tosaigh a chuirtear faoi bhráid an chomhchoiste a fhoilsiú ar shuíomh gréasáin an chomhchoiste tar éis an chruinnithe seo.

Iarrtar ar fhinnéithe agus ar chomhaltaí araon an cleachtadh parlaiminte a urramú nár chóir, más féidir, daoine nó eintiteas a cháineadh ná líomhaintí a dhéanamh ina n-aghaidh ná tuairimí a thabhairt maidir leo ina ainm, ina hainm nó ina n-ainmneacha ar shlí a bhféadfaí iad a aithint. Chomh maith leis sin, iarrtar orthu gan aon ní a rá a d’fhéadfaí breathnú air mar ábhar díobhálach do dhea-chlú aon duine nó eintiteas. Mar sin, dá bhféadfadh a ráitis a bheith clúmhillteach do aon duine nó eintiteas aitheanta, ordófar dóibh éirí as an ráiteas sin láithreach. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go ngéillfí leis an ordú sin láithreach, má eisítear é.

Is féidir linn tús a chur le cruinniú an lae inniu agus déileáil le hábhar an chruinnithe. Iarraim ar cheannasaí cumarsáide réigiúnach Uisce Éireann, Richard Ó hEadhra, a ráiteas tosaigh a roinnt linn.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Bail ó Dhia oraibh tráthnóna, a Chathaoirligh agus a baill den choiste. Is mise ceannasaí cumarsáide réigiúnach d'Uisce Éireann, nó Irish Water mar a bhí. I mo theannta inniu tá mo chomhghleacaithe an Dr. Edmond O’Reilly, bainisteoir um phleanáil sócmhainne, a bheidh ag feidhmiú ina cheannasaí d’Uisce Éireann inniu agus freagróidh sé aon cheisteanna a bheidh ag comhaltaí maidir le cúrsaí fuíolluisce nó séarachais; Des Joyce, ceannasaí um sholáthar uisce, a bheidh in ann aon cheisteanna maidir le huisce óil a fhreagairt; agus Sorcha Heaphy, oifigeach saorála fáisnéise, a fhreagróidh aon cheisteanna maidir le hAcht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla.

Thar mo cheann féin, mar fear Gaeltachta, thar cheann mo chomhghleacaithe agus ar son na heagraíochta, gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste as an deis aitheasc a thabhairt dó inniu ar na seirbhísí uisce agus séarachais a chuireann Uisce Éireann ar fáil i gceantair Ghaeltachta.

Sonraítear i bplean straitéiseach maoiniúchán agus sa bplean um infheistíocht caipitil Uisce Éireann ár n-uaillmhian maidir le hionaid cóireála uisce, ionaid cóireála fuíolluisce, líonraí uisce agus séarachais a thógáil, a dheisiú agus a uasghrádú. Déanfaimid infheistíocht de €5.3 billiún i seirbhísí uisce ó 2020 go 2024, a rachaidh chun tairbhe na heacnamaíochta agus na timpeallachta ó cheann ceann na tíre. Sa bhliain 2022 agus den chéad uair riamh, rinne Uisce Éireann infheistíocht de bhreis agus €1 billiún, nó €1.061 billiún, ar chaiteachas caipitil. Arís, seo infheistíocht a rachaidh chun tairbhe do na mílte pobal timpeall na tíre.

I láthair na huaire tá an chéad phlean náisiúnta acmhainní uisce á chur i gcrích ag Uisce Éireann. Sa phlean seo, déanfar athbhreithniú ar infhaighteacht fhadtréimhseach uisce agus ar an riachtanas ar sholáthar uisce don tír thar na 25 bliana amach romhainn. Tugadh san áireamh, agus an próiseas seo á chur le chéile, na soláthraí uisce uilig a fhreastalaíonn ar cheantar Gaeltachta. De réir mar a éilítear faoin gcreat náisiúnta pleanála, bíonn Uisce Éireann ag obair go seasta leis na húdaráis áitiúla chun cur leis na próisis reáchtála pleanála spriocanna zónála a fhorbairt mar aon le croí-straitéisí a thacódh le forbairt sóisialta agus eacnamaíochta trí chur chuige bunaithe ar phlean cinnte. Cuireann pleananna forbartha na n-údarás áitiúla le pleananna straitéiseacha Uisce Éireann agus cuireann siad le pleanáil maidir le hinfheistíocht agus maidir le tosaíocht a dhearbhú. Freisin, bímid ag obair go dlúth lenar rialálaí eacnamaíochta, An Coimisiún um Rialáil Fóntais, CRU, i ngach uile ábhar.

Cuirtear uisce óil ar fáil do tuairim is 6% den daonra trí ghrúpscéimeanna uisce, is iad sin scéimeanna faoi choimirce an phobail. Astu sin, soláthraítear uisce do 70% as grúpscéimeanna príobháideacha uisce a bhfuil foinsí phríobháideacha uisce acu. Faigheann na scéimeanna eile a gcuid uisce ó nasc Uisce Éireann. Is as toibreacha príobháideacha a fhaigheann beagnach 10% den daonra a gcuid uisce óil. Níl ach thart ar 30% de shealbhóirí tí nasctha le seirbhísí poiblí fuíolluisce agus bíonn siad ag brath ar dhabhcha shéarachais, ar ghrúpchóireáil fuíolluisce nó ar chórais eile chun cóireáil a dhéanamh ar a gcuid fuíolluisce. Tá sé lasmuigh de shainchúram Uisce Éireann infheistíocht a dhéanamh maidir le bonneagar do sheirbhísí uisce a sholáthar i sráidbhailte gan séarach. Tugaimid lán-tacaíocht d’údaráis áitiúla atá ag lorg maoiniúcháin tríd an gciste um athghiniúint agus forbairt tuaithe de chuid an phlean náisiúnta forbartha.

Cuireann Uisce Éireann seirbhísí fuíolluisce ar fáil i 44 lonnaíocht laistigh de limistéir Ghaeltachta. Tá breis agus €110 milliún á infheistiú againn i dtograí i gceantair Ghaeltachta, agus tá sé beartaithe againn tuilleadh infheistíochta a dhéanamh sna limistéir sin agus go gcuirfear san áireamh iad i bpleananna infheistíochta na todhchaí. Bainistíonn Uisce Éireann tuairim is 60 soláthar uisce a chuireann seirbhísí soláthair uisce ar fáil do cheantair Ghaeltachta ar fud na tíre. Táimid ag infheistiú breis agus €150 milliún ar thograí atá curtha i gcrích nó atá ar siúl go fóill sna ceantair seo agus tá pleananna eile ar bun d’oibreacha eile. Ina theannta sin táimid ag tacú le tograí bonneagair ar fud na tíre, agus tá ceantair Ghaeltachta san áireamh leis seo. Tá infheistíocht leanúnach i mbonneagar uisce agus fuíolluisce fíorthábhachtach má táimid chun a chinntiú go mbeidh soláthar inmharthana uisce óil agus córais cóireála fuíolluisce oiriúnach ann don am i láthair agus don todhchaí. Tá Uisce Éireann tiomanta, agus ag tacú go tréan, le seirbhísí Gaeilge a chur ar fáil dóibh siúd a theastaíonn uathu cumarsáid a dhéanamh linn trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá Uisce Éireann faoi réir ag Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla ón mbliain 2020. Táimid ag obair le go gcinnteodh muid agus le go gcomhlíonfaidh muid an reachtaíocht agus le go mbeidh muid ag neartú na seirbhísí atá ar fáil trí Ghaeilge.

Tá Uisce Éireann go huile is go hiomlán tiomanta do bharr maitheasa agus do bharr feabhais a bhaint amach ó thaobh seirbhísí uisce agus bonneagar a sholáthar d'Éirinn, anois agus amach sa todhchaí. Le tacaíocht leanúnach ón Rialtas agus ónár bpáirtithe leasmhara, lena n-áirítear baill an choiste, ionadaí tofa, táimid lánmhuiníneach go leanfaimid orainn ag cur bonneagair chriticiúil uisce agus fuíolluisce ar fáil a rachaidh chun tairbhe spriocanna beartais phoiblí, i ndáil le tithíocht, gníomhú ar son na haeráide agus forbairt eacnamaíochta i gcoitinne, agus áirítear ceantair Ghaeltachta go láidir ansin. Gabhaim buíochas arís leis na mbaill as ucht an gcuireadh teacht os comhair an choiste. Fáiltímid roimh an deis baill an choiste a chur ar an eolas maidir leis an obair ríthábhachtach atá á déanamh ag Uisce Éireann fud fad na tíre. Tá mé féin agus mo chomhghleacaithe lán-tuillteanach glacadh le haon cheisteanna a bheadh ag na baill. Mura bhfuil freagra na ceiste sin againn ar an toirt, beimid lán sásta teacht ar ais i scríbhinn, má oireann sé sin don choiste.

An Cathaoirleach

Casfaimid anois ar na comhaltaí.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe go léir. Bhí mé ag tnúth leis an gcruinniú seo ach faraor beidh orm an cruinniú a fhágáil; mar sin gabh mo leithscéal. De ghnáth fanaim ach tá an ráiteas tosaigh léite agam. Mar sin gabhaim buíochas leis na finnéithe as an gcur i láthair. Ní raibh tús maith ag Uisce Éireann de bharr a lán cúiseanna, mé féin san áireamh. Cheap mé gur droch-chinneadh a bhí ann Uisce Éireann a bhunú ach sin an cinneadh a rinneadh. Tá Uisce Éireann ann agus fós tá neart le hoibriú amach ó thaobh oibreacha de. Níl muid anseo leis sin a phlé inniu ach táimid anseo le hinfreastruchtúr sna Gaeltachtaí uilig a phlé. Arís agus arís tá na dreamanna tagtha os ár gcomhair chun a chur in iúl cé chomh deacair is atá sé maireachtáil sa Ghaeltacht gan infreastruchtúr bunúsach, gan tithe agus le cúrsaí pleanála. Tá na rudaí seo go léir fite fuaite. Tá i bhfad níos mó eolais ag na saineolaithe agus ag na daoine ar an talamh atá mar shaineolaithe anois ar cé chomh deacair is atá sé.

Gach seachtain bíonn rud eile. Tá alt ar tuairisc.ie a chuireann in iúl chomh feiliúnach is atá staid na Gaeilge agus níl sé ar chumas na clainne an Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil don chéad ghlúin eile. Tá géarghá le hinstitiúid nua sochtheangeolaíochta. Ní bhaineann se sin le hUisce Éireann ach amháin gur sin comhthéacs an chomhrá agus na díospóireachta inniu ar chomh deacair is atá sé ar a lán cúiseanna. Is é Uisce Éireann an dream is tábhachtaí because gan bonneagar ar an talamh, tá sé thar a bheith deacair, nach bhfuil?

Tá neart sonraí tugtha ag Uisce Éireann dúinne ach tá sé deacair iad a chur i gcomhthéacs. Beidh ceisteanna agam maidir le sonraí ar thograí ach tagraím don Ghaeilge ar dtús. Cén fhóram atá ag Uisce Éireann? Dúirt Richard Ó hEadhra go bhfuil Uisce Éireann i mbun oibre ar na dualgais atá aige faoin Acht nua a chomhlíonadh, agus glacaim leis sin. Tá an dualgas sin ar Uisce Éireann, ach ó thaobh anailíse a dhéanamh ar na fadhbanna ar an talamh atá ag cur in aghaidh daoine a bheith lonnaithe sa Ghaeltacht, cén sórt fóram atá laistigh d'Uisce Éireann? An dtuigeann an finné mo cheist?

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Tuigim. Tiocfaidh na saineolaithe teicniúla isteach air seo agus beidh Sorcha Heaphy in ann labhairt mar gheall ar an Acht féin ach tagraím don remit atá ag Uisce Éireann. Níl remit maidir le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ag an eagraíocht. Tuigim gur eagraíocht cineál-----

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Ní bhaineann an cheist le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge go díreach ach an bhfuil sé tugtha san áireamh, nuair atá Uisce Éireann ag breathnú ar na Gaeltachtaí, cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé bonneagar a leagan síos.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

B'fhéidir go gcuirfinn an cheist sin ar an Dr. O'Reilly chun léiriú a thabhairt ar an gcaoi a thugaimid tosaíocht do na tograí, nó prioritisation of the projects.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Go háirithe, ó thaobh na nGaeltachtaí agus na Gaeilge de.

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist. Leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh as Béarla, lena toil. On the prioritisation of projects across the board, we have quite a large remit across the country to ensure we are bringing appropriate investment to locations where it is most needed and to ensure we are meeting our objectives nationally. By doing so, we have to submit our investment plans to the financial regulator and to demonstrate within those investment plans that we are carrying out our activities in an equitable manner, ensuring we are treating every area the same, and are achieving our priorities across the board.

With regard to Gaeltacht areas, in particular, from a wastewater point of view, there are 44 settlements across these areas in which we have wastewater services. Within those areas, I can see that 27 have capacity for growth and we have completed a number of projects across the Gaeltacht areas over recent years.

We have spent in excess of €110 million across the areas since the establishment of Uisce Éireann in 2014. We are continuing to develop our needs across the areas to ensure we have these included in our investment plans, going forward. We have-----

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Gabh mo leithscéal. Tá sé léite agam agus gabhaim buíochas leis an Dr. O'Reilly as a chuimsithí is atá an cur i láthair. Tá na figiúirí anseo ach ní thuigim, go háirithe ó thaobh na nGaeltachtaí de, cad iad na tosaíochtaí atá ag Uisce Éireann chun a chinntiú go bhfuil bonneagar bunúsach ar an talamh sna Gaeltachtaí. Mar shampla, ní raibh mé ag iarraidh díriú isteach ar chás amháin ach díreoidh mé amhlaidh, mar sin féin, chun an pointe a shimpliú. Tá an Cheathrú Rua gan chóras séarachais le fada an lá. Tá pleananna ann agus níl siad ag dul in aon treo agus, i ndáiríre, tá siad ag dul i gcul-de-sac maidir leis na pleananna atá ann. Ceapaim go bhfuil sé thar am é sin a admháil agus chun pleananna réasúnta a chur ar an talamh ó thaobh céard atá i gceist maidir leis An gCeathrú Rua. Táim ag smaoineamh ar Árainn freisin. Níl a fhios agam cé mhéad ríomhphoist, idir an gcomhairle contae i nGaillimh, an Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, agus Uisce Éireann - an triúr nó an tríonóid - a scríobhadh ag iarraidh a fháil amach cad atá in ann d’Árainn ó thaobh an chórais atá ann atá thar a bheith lochtach. Is iad sin dhá rud. An bhfuil An Cheathrú Rua ar bharr an liosta nó an bhfuil aon áit eile ar fud na tíre sna Gaeltachtaí a bhfuil chomh dona sin nó chomh easnamhach, mar ab b’fhearr a thabhairt air, leis An gCeathrú Rua?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

With regard to An Cheathrú Rua in particular, it is one of the untreated agglomerations and is one of 50 which is on a list the EPA has published. We are working and have plans in place for all of those across the country. There are six such areas in Gaeltacht areas among the 43 or 44 settlements which we serve. Indeed, we have come across in the example of An Cheathrú Rua where we have had to re-examine our plans. We are working our way through those issues.

We also have projects in An Spidéal, which is close to An Cheathrú Rua, and that project is well under way and nearing completion. We also have a project in Roundstone in Connemara. Those three areas in particular in that part of the country would be part of the untreated agglomerations programme we have running.

We experience delays in projects, and this has been discussed at length in these rooms, as in other places across the board. It is fair to say a great deal of attention is being paid to the issues which relate to these projects with respect to the delays we experience from the planning and the different statutory consents which we have to achieve, but I ask the Deputy to rest assured that we are working hard on these and, as I said, we have plans in place to resolve the issues in these particular areas.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Dr. O'Reilly ach ní féidir liom "rest assured". Ní ghlacaim leis sin mar tá sé seo ag dul ar aghaidh leis na blianta. Ní thugann sé sin aon dóchas dom agus tuigim go bhfuil a lán oibre ar siúl ag an gcuideachta. Tá na Gaeltachtaí goilliúnach ar mhórán cúiseanna agus is easpa infreastruchtúir ceann de na cúiseanna is mó i ndáiríre faoi deara sin. Táim ag iarraidh agus ag streachailt lena fháil amach cé chomh hard is atá na Gaeltachtaí ar an liosta tosaíochtaí atá ag na finnéithe. Táim ag díriú isteach ar Ghaeltacht na Gaillimhe agus is dócha go mbeidh daoine eile ag díriú isteach ar Ghaeltachtaí eile ach is pointe ginearálta é. Cé chomh hard ar an liosta is atá sé a éascú do dhaoine maireachtáil sna Gaeltachtaí uile?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

I will go back to the 44 settlements we service and that is the extent to which I can speak about.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Is é sin 44 laistigh de na Gaeltachtaí, an ea?

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Thart timpeall na tíre.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

An iad sin na Gaeltachtaí uile?

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Is iad. Tá cuid de na lonnaíochta sin atá laistigh de na Gaeltachtaí ansin.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Cé mhéad atá laistigh de na Gaeltachtaí?

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

I will ask Dr. O’Reilly how many untreated agglomerations are within the Gaeltacht areas.

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

First off, I will speak about the settlements that we service, and the untreated agglomerations are part of that number. There are six such settlements within the Gaeltacht areas which are part of the untreated agglomerations programme for which we have plans progressing. Across the 44 settlements in An Ghaeltacht where we have wastewater services, there are approximately 27, as I have said, which have capacity for growth where there are wastewater treatment plants in place and operating effectively. There are 13 which are constrained for growth, which are currently at capacity and are not fit-for-purpose, and we have plans in place for all of those. We understand what the need is and, in fact, most of those are part of the small towns and villages growth programme. This programme was established during this current investment, called RC3, or revenue control period 3.

This is a national programme where we look at the smaller settlements, and Gaeltacht areas are typified by small settlements around the country where they have suffered from a lack of investment over many years. By virtue of the fact they are small settlements; it is often difficult for them to be high on the priority list, nationally speaking. The small towns and villages growth programme was set up to address that issue and we are currently working our way through the programme. As I have said, the 13 wastewater treatment plants which are constrained from a capacity perspective are part of that programme. We understand the needs of those and are working our way through those now.

The point I make on that is that there are 280 such candidates throughout the country. These 13 are part of that 280 and it will take us quite a bit of time to get through all of those with regard to the investment required.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Chomh maith leis sin, más féidir liom teacht isteach anseo, a Chathaoirligh, d'iarr an Teachta Connolly orainn faoin infreastruchtúr atá á chur ar fáil. Táimid ag caint ar na háiteanna faoi láthair nach bhfuil infreastruchtúr iontu nó atá ar dhroch-chaighdeán. Le deich mbliana anuas, tá Uisce Éireann ar an ród mar go bhfuil go leor oibre agus infheistíochta déanta aige thart timpeall na Gaeltachta. Is cuimhin liom go raibh an Teachta ar an gCeathrú Rua nuair a bhíomar ag oscailt an ionaid cóireála uisce ansin a rachadh chun tairbhe an phobail.

Thuas i nGaoth Dobhair, tá córas nuálach séarachais déanta, áit a raibh fadhbanna séarachais ann leis na cianta. Tá obair mhór á déanamh thart timpeall na nGaeltachtaí ar fad agus, mar a dúirt an Dr. O'Reilly, tá pleananna le haghaidh na n-áiteanna eile. Ach, mar a luamar cheana sa ráiteas laistigh, is beag áit nárbh fhéidir linn a bheith in ann oibriú leis na polaiteoirí chun, b'fhéidir, polasaí agus straitéisí a chur le chéile chun níos mó airde a thabhairt ar cheantair Ghaeltachta. Teastaíonn cúnamh uathu freisin-----

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Teastaíonn.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

-----le go bhféadfaimis a bheith ag obair as lámh a chéile chun, b'fhéidir, polasaí nó bealaí eile chun maoiniú a chur ar fáil do na ceantair Ghaeltachta.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Is é sin croílár mo cheiste, i ndáiríre. Chuir mé an cheist i gcomhthéacs na tosaíochta nó an pholasaí, is cuma cén focal a úsaidtear, ach níl an chosúlacht ar an scéal go bhfuil na Gaeltachtaí ar aon leibhéal ar an liosta. Níl tosaíocht ar bith dá tabhairt. B'fhéidir go bhfuilim mícheart ach is é sin an léamh atá agam.

Tóg An Cheathrú Rua, mar shampla. Cá bhfuil an togra sin? Tá an sráidbhaile sin i gcroílár na Gaeltachta. Cá bhfuil an plean atá ansin don séarachas atá ag dul isteach san fharraige?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

An Cheathrú Rua, as I mentioned, is one of the untreated agglomerations and is one of our highest priorities from a wastewater investment point of view. Our efforts are fully behind An Cheathrú Rua to ensure the project continues. As I have mentioned, there have been complications with that project and we have had to take another look at it to ensure we get the correct outcome. This project has by no means been deprioritised. Work has not stopped on that project and will continue on it from an Uisce Éireann perspective.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Críochnóidh mé i gceann nóiméad. Cén uair a bheidh ionad ar an suíomh sin nó ar shuíomh eile? Más rud é go bhfuil athbhreithniú i gceist ó thaobh an tsuímh de, fáiltím roimhe sin. An é sin an rud atá á rá ag an Dr. O’Reilly mar is é sin an suíomh atá roghnaithe leis na blianta, áit nach bhfuil aon dul chun cinn déanta ann? Tuigim an chúis taobh thiar de sin mar tá pleananna eile ag an úinéir don suíomh sin. In ainneoin sin, lean Uisce Éireann ar aghaidh leis na blianta á rá gurbh é seo an suíomh. An bhfuil an chiall faighte ag Uisce Éireann anois nach é seo an suíomh agus an bhfuil an chuideachta ag breathnú ar shuíomhanna eile anois?

Dr. Edmond O’Reilly

I will not get into the very specifics of the project itself on that detail. I am sure the Deputy is aware of the complications that have taken place at that site and that project. We have to review what we need to do in that location.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

An bhfuil Uisce Éireann i mbun athbhreithniú faoi láthair? Is í sin an cheist. Cén uair a bheidh an t-athbhreithniú sin críochnaithe?

Dr. Edmond O’Reilly

The review is under way. We would expect to be moving forward with plans but I cannot put timelines on it as I do not have them to hand. Certainly, we are reviewing the options available to us and we are pursuing the project to keep them moving. We appreciate that it is going to take longer to complete than was the original plan, based on the complications which have arisen.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

B’fhéidir go dtiocfaidh Uisce Éireann ar ais chugainn, tríd an gCathaoirleach, maidir leis na pleananna. Tá frustrachas orm ag an bpointe seo ach cén sórt frustrachais atá ar mhuintir an cheantair? Baineann an cheist seo leis an nGaeilge mar is é seo croílár na Gaeltachta i gConamara, nó ceann de na croíthe, b'fhéidir, mar is dócha mar go mbeadh daoine in áiteanna eile - i gCarna, mar shampla - ag argóint liom faoin gcur síos sin. Is é an rud atá mé ag iarraidh a fháil amach ná cá bhfuil an baile seo ar an liosta tosaíochta agus níl an t-eolas sin faighte agam go fóill. Tá neart ceisteanna curtha agam anois. Maidir le heagraíocht féin ár bhfinnéithe, b'fhéidir go mbeidh siad in ann teacht ar ais, tríd an gCathaoirleach, maidir leis na ceisteanna siúd a shoiléiriú.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Tiocfaimid.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Maidir le heagraíocht féin ár bhfinnéithe, chonaic mé an focal nua "outsourcing" ansin. Is é sin an dream atá i gCorcaigh atá i mbun glaonna a fhreagairt. Is comhlacht príobháideach é sin agus nuair a dhéanann muid glaoch ar Uisce Éireann is don comhlacht príobháideach seo i gCorcaigh a chuirtear an glaoch. Is é sin an bealach nó an córas. Cé mhéad daoine acu siúd sa chomhlacht sin a bhfuil cumas acu sa Ghaeilge nó an bhfuil aon choinníollacha leagtha síos ag Uisce Éireann faoi sin?

Ms Sorcha Heaphy

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist sin. We have made strong efforts over the past seven or eight months to increase the numbers of individuals who have a strong level of competency in the Irish language. Prior to Christmas, we would only have had two such people within the group of agents who were serving the Uisce Éireann account. That has increased to an additional five in recent months. We have made great strides to impress this requirement on ourselves within the organisation, and on those with which we partner such as Capita which provided that outsourced contact service centre for us. We have increased the availability of that service. I know this has sometimes been challenging for customers who have wished to engage with us by pressing "Ní" ar an teileafón in that way.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tá méadú tagtha ar líon na n-oibrithe atá fostaithe ag an gcuideachta sin. Is é sin comhlacht amháin agus tá cúigear anois-----

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Tá agus bhain mé féin triail as an líne an lá cheana agus bhí mé ag caint le bean as Gaoth Dobhair ó dhúchas agus Gaeilge breá líofa aici siúd. Tá tréan-iarracht á dhéanamh thart timpeall na heagraíochta chun an éiteas agus an polasaí ó thaobh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla de a chur chun cinn.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tá sé sin iontach ach sa chomhthéacs seo, cé mhéad oibrithe atá sa chuideachta sin, le go mbeinn in ann é sin a thuiscint? Tá cúigear le Gaeilge as cé mhéad?

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Níl a fhios agam go díreach cé mhéad a bhfuil Gaeilge acu. B'fhéidir go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó a bhfuil an Ghaeilge acu atá ag obair sa chomhlacht sin. Níl an figiúr agam nó níl sé ar eolas agam cé mhéad den mhéid atá ann atá ag obair ar chuntas Uisce Éireann laistigh den chomhlacht féin ach beidh mé in ann teacht ar ais don chomhchoiste réasúnta gairid leis na figiúirí sin.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Bheadh na sonraí sin suimiúil. Mar aon leis sin, cé mhéad daoine a bhfuil an Ghaeilge acu laistigh d’Uisce Éireann féin?

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Ar bhealach, bheadh sé sin ar nós an daonáirimh mar go mbeadh leibhéil dhifriúla ann. Bíonn comhráite Gaeilge ar bun thart timpeall na hoifige go laethúil ar bhealaí ach bheadh orainn cineál daonáirimh bhig a dhéanamh chun an t-eolas sin a fháil amach.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

B'fhéidir go mbeidh Uisce Éireann in ann teacht ar ais faoi sin. Ar leibhéal amháin is pointe beag é i gcomparáid leis an easpa infrastruchtúir ar an talamh-----

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Tuigim an pointe atá á dhéanamh ag an Teachta.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

-----ach tá an dá rud tábhachtach.

Ms Sorcha Heaphy

I might come in there. Gabhaim buíochas arís. We have put a structure in place within Uisce Éireann in recent months. We have been subject to the Official Languages Act since 2020. Having said that, we have created a network of champions for the Irish language and for the Official Languages Act, in particular, within the organisation. We have representation from each of the directorates within Uisce Éireann.

In my own area, for example, I sit within the chief legal officer area where we would have infrastructure delivery represented, the finance directorate, etc. We have broad representation from individuals who would have a mix of competency, if I can put it that way, with regards to their own Gaeilge.

We draw on that network to ensure that awareness is increased within the organisation as a whole around an Ghaeilge. We have appointed an official languages officer in the past number of months and we are looking towards developing an Irish-language strategy for the organisation as well. We have talked about everything and anything from running some training courses as Gaeilge to ensuring we would have an cupán tae le chéile as we try to get the Irish language embedded within the day-to-day life of the company. It is challenging and we are only starting off on that journey but we are very much committed to it.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Nó fiú cupán uisce.

Ms Sorcha Heaphy

Is rud cinnte é sin freisin

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil dul chun cinn déanta ó thaobh na fógraíochta ar an teilifís agus ar an raidió de. Cuirim fáilte roimhe sin. Gabhaim míle maith ag ár n-aíonna.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta freisin.

An Cathaoirleach

Glaoim anois ar an Teachta Ó Muineacháin.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Bhí an-suim agam le linn dom a bheith ag éisteacht leis an méid a bhí á rá sa chomhchoiste, leis an gcomhrá ansin, agus leis an tuairisc roimhe. Cad a déarfadh ar n-aíonna go mba iad na spriocanna móra atá ag teastáil chun togra a bhrú chun cinn? Céard a thiomáineann togra amháin chun tosaigh ar thogra eile nuair atá an chuideachta ag plé leis an obair nó leis an bplean a leagan amach?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist sin. Freagróidh mise an cheist seo ar aon nós agus, arís, leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh i mBéarla anois. This question effectively comes back to how we prioritise work in Uisce Éireann and the scale of the work we carry out. I know that Deputy Moynihan and I have spoken in the past on this topic as well with regard to Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh in County Cork.

In broad terms, the scale of investment required across the board in Ireland with regard to the deficits in the water services infrastructure are quite significant. We have been making steady progress across the board with regard to the investment we have been making in the projects we have completed as to the scale and the number of projects.

Broadly speaking, we take our direction from the legislation which is in place governing the quality of water and wastewater we treat and produce. With regard to the primary legislation derived from the European directives, on the wastewater side we have the urban wastewater treatment directive. I might pass over to my colleague Mr. Joyce in a couple of moments to talk about the water side, specifically. I will carry on with regard to wastewater for now.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Táim dírithe ar fhuíolluisce, córais séarachais agus mar sin de. Más féidir dhá nó trí ábhar mhóra a lua, cad iad na spriocanna móra nó an féidir iad a aithint go héasca? Céard a thiomáineann togra amháin chun tosaigh ar thogra eile, pé áit sa tír? An é an líon daoine a bhfuil an togra ag freastal orthu? An é an t-éileamh atá sa dúthaigh, nó an timpeallacht? An bhféadfaí a rá cad iad na spriocanna nó na rudaí is tábhachtaí nuair a bhíonn Uisce Éireann ag roghnú togra amháin seachas togra eile, nó togra ar leith, a chur chun cinn, agus mar sin de?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

It is all of those. We look at the environmental benefit a project would bring about. As I have said, the question of environmental benefit goes back to the legislation we must follow as regards environmental compliance. We have to ensure we are achieving our objectives from the perspective of European directives, primarily the urban wastewater treatment directive, and from the perspective of our wastewater discharge licenses and our certificates of authorisation. Projects must demonstrate compliance with those primary pieces. We also must demonstrate we are providing capacity for growth. That is another key driver for us in getting projects to move forward. The final piece is that we address service risks, that is, we ensure the assets themselves are fit for purpose and can operate without failing.

On the question of what brings one project ahead of another, we have key drivers from an objectives perspective. We speak a lot about untreated agglomerations. Completing those is a key priority for us. We speak about the urban wastewater treatment directive. We are achieving a very significant amount in that regard. All our plans will be in compliance with that directive within the current investment period or early in the next investment period, when the wastewater treatment plant at Ringsend here in Dublin is finished. We work with the EPA on the priorities it presents to us through its priority areas list. We ensure we have projects advancing across those areas. The river basin management plan is also key. Urban wastewater pressures that have been identified as having a significant impact on receiving waters have been identified. We are working on projects to address those pressures across the board. They are some of the key drivers from an investment point of view.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Ar an gcéad dul síos, táimid dírithe ar riachtanais phobal Gaeltachta. Chun go mbeidh Gaeltacht ann, beidh daoine ag teastáil. Ní mhairfidh Gaeltacht gan daoine. Teastaíonn ó na daoine sin go mbeidís ábalta cónaí sa Ghaeltacht. Ní Gaeltacht a bheidh ann má tá na daoine sin scaipthe ar fud na tíre. An aithníonn Uisce Éireann gur gá daoine i gcomhair Gaeltachta agus an tábhacht a bhaineann leis sin?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

Gan dabht.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Chun go mbeidh na daoine seo ábalta maireachtáil sa Ghaeltacht, tá tithíocht uathu. Teastaíonn uathu a bheith ábalta áit chónaithe a bheith acu. An bhfeiceann Uisce Éireann go bhfuil sé ag teacht salach ar iarrachtaí daoine tig cónaithe a bheith acu sa Ghaeltacht? Más rud é nach bhfuil córas séarachais ar fáil, níl daoine ábalta tig cónaithe a thógáil sa sráidbhaile. Níl siad ábalta cónaí sa cheantar agus, dá bharr sin, tá Uisce Éireann ag cur isteach ar Ghaeltacht. An bhfeiceann Uisce Éireann é sin? An nglacann sé leis?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

I absolutely accept that. From that perspective, I would come back to the small towns and villages programme.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

An mbíonn aon éifeacht ag riachtanais phobail, riachtanais theanga nó riachtanais mhuintir na háite ar an gcinneadh? Luaigh an Dr. O'Reilly plean an EPA, capacity for growth, the river basin management plan agus mar sin de. An bhfuil aon bhéim ar riachtanais phobail nó riachtanais theanga? An nglacann siad sin aon ról sa chinneadh córas amháin a chur os comhair córais eile nó córas a bhogadh ar aghaidh?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

To be fair, we do not have a policy that drives the prioritisation of Gaeltacht areas over other areas. To go back to the small towns and villages programmes, I mentioned to Deputy Connolly that there are 13 settlements in which wastewater services are constrained from a capacity perspective. They are all captured within the small towns and villages growth programme. As I was saying, we understand the requirements for those particular areas. They are within our plans for the future. I appreciate that, in some of these cases, the timelines are quite long but certainly-----

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Tá siad sa phlean ar chúiseanna eile seachas teanga nó a bheith sa Ghaeltacht. An fíor é sin?

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Ní thiocfadh na rudaí sin faoi bhráid na scéime.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

An bhfuil sé cothrom nó an féidir a rá nach bhfuil Uisce Éireann ag tabhairt aird ar bith ar riachtanais theanga nó riachtanais phobal na Gaeltachta agus go bhfuil rud éigin eile ar fad ag tiomáint na riachtanais atá aige?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

We would very much support any policy that looks to support Gaeltacht areas. It is something we would be very happy to work with the Deputy and others on. I will again go back to the small towns and villages scheme because it is very relevant here. There are 280 settlements throughout the country that require investment and whose growth is constrained. These are spread right across the country. We have to ensure we have plans in place for all of those.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Cén éifeacht atá ag truailliú ar thogra? An rud tábhachtach é chun togra a bhogadh chun cinn? Dá mba rud é go raibh Uisce Éireann ag truailliú áit éigin, an mbeadh sé sin ina rud mór le rá aige?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

It would be for sure. We do-----

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Cad atá ag truailliú na Laoi?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

Will the Deputy be more specific on that particular question?

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Cad iad na foinsí truaillithe in Abhann na Laoi?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

To answer that question, I will refer back to the river basin management plan. This plan has looked at all the water body catchments throughout the country and has identified the significant pressures that arise. Urban wastewater is ranked as number four.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Ach cad iad na foinsí truaillithe in Abhann na Laoi féin?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

I would have to come back to Deputy Moynihan on that. I would have to refer to the river basin management plan.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Ba mhór an trua sin. B'fhéidir go n-aithneodh Uisce Éireann an ról atá aige i dtruailliú Abhann na Laoi.

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

Again, in terms of the wastewater treatment plants that are discharging-----

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

An gcuirfeadh sé ionadh ar an Dr. O'Reilly dá mba rud é go ndeirtear leis gurb é Uisce Éireann an phríomhfhoinse truaillithe?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

Again, I would have to come back with the detail on that.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Ba mhaith liom é sin. Táim sásta go bhfillfidh an Dr. O'Reilly leis sin. Leanfaimid leis an truailliú sa Laoi. An raibh aon teagmháil ag Uisce Éireann leis an EPA mar gheall ar thruailliú in Abhainn na Laoi?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

The EPA is the competent body in monitoring and managing the discharges to water bodies. The local authorities are also involved from the perspective of the local authorities' water programmes. Uisce Éireann is a stakeholder with regard to water body impact. There are a number of stakeholders, including stakeholders from the areas of agriculture and forestry, along with many more. Each is concerned with particular impacts in particular parts of the country. The EPA manages the data and the science behind it all.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Fanfaimid leis an Laoi. An raibh aon teagmháil ag Uisce Éireann leis an EPA mar gheall ar thruailliú in Abhainn na Laoi? Ciontaíodh úinéir an treatment plant i mBéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh os comhair na Cúirte Dúiche roinnt blianta ó shin, sula raibh Uisce Éireann ann. Tá Uisce Éireann tar éis an plean sin a thógáil ar lámh anois. An bhfuil athruithe déanta aige idir an dá linn nó an bhfuil sé ag leanúint leis an truailliú mar a bhí ann tráth?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

There are a number of different actions under way in Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh. We are aware of the flooding issues related to that site and of the nature of the treatment plant there relative to the settlement it serves. We have a project under way to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant on that site and that project is in stage 2. Projects would generally move through up to four stages-----

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Idir an dá linn an bhfuil Uisce Éireann ag leanúint leis an truailliú nó an bhfuil iarrachtaí déanta chun containment a dhéanamh? An bhfuil aon iarracht déanta le roinnt blianta anuas nó an bhfuil sé in aigne ag Uisce Éireann leanúint leis an truailliú ann?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

The wastewater treatment plant in Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh is being managed as best it can. As I said, a number of actions are being undertaken on the site to minimise the impact on receding water. I can come back to the Deputy with more detail on those actions that are being undertaken.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Shamhlóinn go mbeadh an timpeallacht mar an ábhair mór le rá i gcomhar togra a bhrú chun cinn. An bhfuil an timpeallacht ag brú ar aghaidh thogra Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh? Ní bhraitheann muintir Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh go bhfuil aon aird á tabhairt ag Uisce Éireann orthu, idir riachtanais teanga, forbairt nó truailliú. An bhfuil na riachtanais timpeallachta ag bogadh ar aghaidh i mBéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh? An bhféadfadh an Dr. O'Reilly a léiriú conas, má tá?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

The project that is advancing in Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh is in recognition of the impact that the discharge is having on the receding water. As I said, it is one of 208 such impacts that was recognised within the river basin management plan. We are assessing all of those and progressing them as a matter of priority. Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh is also part of our small towns and villages growth programme and is one of 280 such candidates. There is a significant level of investment required throughout the country, we are working our way though that and it will take time to address all of those needs. The projects that are under way-----

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Idir an dá linn, an leanfaidh Uisce Éireann leis an truailliú?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

In the meantime we will continue to operate the plant as best it can be operated to minimise the impact of receding water.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Ar ghlac an EPA leis sin?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

There is an acceptance across the board of the length of time it takes to deliver capital works of this nature. On the project that would be required for Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh, we have spoken before about the processes that need to be followed in project stages. We also need to ensure we have the appropriate consents in place, including planning permissions, licence reviews and so forth. These are taking time and the timescale for a project of that nature is between five and seven years.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Idir an dá linn tá brú ollmhór ar phobal Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh. Níl siad ábalta tithíocht a thógáil sa sráidbhaile agus níl cead acu nasc a dhéanamh leis an gcóras atá ann. Idir an dá linn tá daoine sáite agus ní féidir leo bogadh chun cinn. Beidh orthu fágáil nó stopadh, agus cuireann sé sin bac ar Ghaeltacht, ar phobal Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh agus ar gach éinne eile mórthimpeall chomh maith.

Táim sásta filleadh ar an bpointe mar gheall ar an truailliú in Abhainn na Laoi am eile, más maith leis an gCathaoirleach, ach tá ceist amháin eile agam a léiríonn cé chomh tapa nó mall is a bhogann Uisce Éireann ar thograí atá riachtanach in áiteanna. Tóg, mar shampla, píobán séarachais a bheadh ag teastáil le hathrú ag rith thíos tríd lár sráidbhaile Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh. Déantar CCTV air agus ansin bíonn a fhios agat go bhfuil gá le rud éigin a dhéanamh. Cén fhad a thógfadh sé chun cinneadh a dhéanamh agus chun dul ar aghaidh leis sin? An dtógfadh sé sé mhí, bliain nó trí bliana? Cén fhad a thógfadh sé chun a leithéid de chinneadh a dhéanamh?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

That type of decision should be taken quickly. I appreciate that the situation in Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh is probably not going to reflect that but, generally speaking, we have an active capital maintenance programme and we have crews on the ground assessing and addressing those issues.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

B'fhéidir gur eisceacht é Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh ach rinneadh CCTV anuraidh agus fós níl cinneadh déanta mar gheall ar conas go n-athrófaí nó go bhfuil píobán le n-athrú nó conas a dhéanfaí é. An eisceacht é sin nó an féidir filleadh chugainn agus freagraí cinnte a thabhairt mar gheall ar cé chomh tapa is a bheidh an píobán sin á athrú? Seo píobán thart ar 150 m tríd lár sráidbhaile Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh. Cathain ar féidir cinneadh a dhéanamh mar gheall ar é a athrú? Cathain a dhéanfaidh Uisce Éireann an cinneadh? Cén fáth go mbeadh sé ag tógáil chomh fada sin? Fillfimid ar an bpointe eile am eile. Ní theastaíonn uaim a bheith ag cur baic ar gach éinne eile.

Senator Seán Kyne

Cuirim fáilte roimh Richard Ó hEadhra agus roimh an bhfoireann ó Uisce Éireann. Ar dtús ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis an obair atá déanta ag Uisce Éireann, mar shampla i nGaillimh agus i gConamara, b'fhéidir ó a bunaíodh an eagraíocht agus ar feadh deich mbliana roimhe sin. Tá scéimeanna séarachais nua tógtha i Maigh Cuilinn, ar an Uachtar Ard, i Leitir Fraic, ar an Líonán, san Fhairche, in Áth Cinn, i mBaile Chláir na Gaillimhe agus i Milltown, agus tá Bearna ceangailte isteach le cathair na Gaillimhe. Chomh maith, tá obair ag dul ar aghaidh ar An Spidéal agus tá pleananna ar Chloch na Rón agus ar An gCeathrú Rua. Tá dul chun cinn ann, ach é sin ráite, tá áiteanna eile le fadbhanna le réiteach agus ba mhaith liom cúpla rud a lua ansin.

Luadh sa ráiteas tosaigh ó Uisce Éireann go bhfuil "ráta boilscithe fíor-ard san eacnamaíocht in Éirinn agus ar fud an domhain". Cén impleacht atá ag an ráiteas sin ar obair Uisce Éireann agus ar luach an phacáiste caipitil atá ag Uisce Éireann?

Mr. Des Joyce

Níl go leor Gaeilge agam so I might continue in English. I thank the Senator for his comments on the investment there has been in the Gaeltacht areas in Galway in particular. Overall, the investment plan we are in the middle of will see investment of about €5.3 billion throughout the country. A significant amount of that in the water side of things has been invested in areas that serve Gaeltacht areas. There are about 60 supplies where Gaeltachtaí are served from and more than half of those have seen or will see investment in this investment plan. We are preparing for the next investment plan and looking at the priorities around the country.

From the water side of things we are driven by the legislation that focuses on water quality and quantity. We have conducted a national water resources plan in recent years, which has allowed us to focus on what the greatest needs are across the country, and we have identified where those are. That plan will help us with the investment going forward. It is true the cost of construction projects has gone up. We have seen that and we are not sure whether those costs will come down again but they are having an impact and we are making provision for that within our next investment plan. I cannot say what the extent of that will be. If the costs stay high, we will probably end up getting less. Saying that, we have a good track record of delivering the products we have ahead of us and we would love to continue that into the next investment period, which we are currently working on. From 2025 to 2029 will be the next investment period and, again, subject to the funds being made available, we would look to increase that €5.3 billion we got in the current investment plan.

Senator Seán Kyne

Gabhaim buíochas as sin. Céard iad na baic ar dhul chun cinn na scéimeanna sna ceantair bheaga? Tá muid ag caint faoi scéimeanna séarachais sa chás seo. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil príomhról ag Uisce Éireann mar gheall ar an liosta sin ón EPA agus tá An Spidéal agus An Cheathrú Rua clúdaithe sa liosta sin, áiteanna ina bhfuil an séarachas ag dul amach san fharraige. Sin liosta amháin. Maidir le liostaí eile, céard iad na baic ar dhul chun cinn in áiteanna eile? Tá muid ag caint faoi na hOileáin Árann, Carna, nó Cill Chiaráin, áiteanna mar sin nach bhfuil ar an bpríomhliosta. Céard iad na baic ar dhul chun cinn sna ceantair sin?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

In terms of the obstacles, there are a number of settlements that we serve across the Gaeltacht area. As mentioned, we have wastewater treatment plants in 44 of those, 27 have capacity and 13 are currently constrained. We have plans in place to bring forward upgrades in those areas. The Senator mentioned Inis Mór and Cill Rónáin. We have assets on Cill Rónáin and we are currently undertaking a study on the works that are required to address the issues there based on recent discussions we have had on that over recent months. We are looking at that from a Cill Rónáin perspective.

More generally, we would consider areas where there are not wastewater assets to be unsewered. It is not within Uisce Éireann’s remit to invest in unserviced or unsewered areas. That would fall under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The multi-annual rural water programme is the primary lever for providing investment in such areas and Uisce Éireann is working very closely with local authorities and the Department on any of those schemes that are being proposed at present.

Senator Seán Kyne

An bhfuil Uisce Éireann in ann ionad séarachais a thógáil in aon áit, i bpáirtíocht le comhairle contae, in áiteanna nach bhfuil seirbhísí faoi láthair? Mar shampla, tá scéim phíolótach ag an Roinn faoi láthair maidir le háiteanna ar fud na tíre. I nGaillimh, mar shampla, tá muid ag caint faoi Dhroichead an Chláirín agus Craughwell. Tá na hiarratais sin curtha isteach chuig an Roinn. Dá mbeadh an t-airgead ag Uisce Éireann, an mbeadh aon bhac ar scéimeanna nua a thógáil?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

Our remit only extends to settlements where there are currently wastewater services. Where there are settlements with no wastewater services, it is not currently within Uisce Éireann’s remit to start investing in those areas. That is the way Uisce Éireann is currently set up. As I have mentioned, we are working closely with the Department and with local authorities to understand the needs across the board and we are providing assistance in understanding the scale of investment that would be required in such cases. There is a particular issue with stand-alone housing estates that were built in the last 15 or 20 years that have their own stand-alone wastewater systems. There are a significant number of those throughout the country. They are also not within our remit but we are working with local authorities to understand the scale of investment required to bring those up to standard. It is fundamentally the statutory responsibility of the planning authority, under section 180 of the Planning and Development Act, to take in charge such estates. In accordance with existing Government policy guidelines, Uisce Éireann is collaborating with the planning authority from that perspective and is working with it on an ongoing basis.

Senator Seán Kyne

Tá ról tábhachtach ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ó thaobh eacnamaíocht na Gaeltachta. An raibh aon chaidreamh idir Uisce Éireann agus Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir le partnership a dhéanamh sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ó thaobh scéimeanna séarachais?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

I am aware of but have not been party to conversations with Údarás na Gaeltachta. There are a number of facilities under its control and there have been conversations about the ongoing operation and maintenance of those going forward. The best answer I can give is that we will come back with more information on that specific matter to ensure it is technically correct.

Senator Seán Kyne

Tá dhá cheist fágtha agam. Ó thaobh uisce ar Inis Oírr sna hOileáin Árann, bíonn fadhbanna ann chuile bhliain mar go bhfásann an daonra le turasóirí. Tagann thart ar 3,000 duine isteach agus amach in aghaidh an lae ó Dhúlainn agus Ros an Mhíl agus ar an eitleán, rud a chuireann brú ollmhór ar an soláthar uisce ar Inis Oírr. Tá Uisce Éireann ag déanamh an-obair ó thaobh uisce a thabhairt amach ag an oileán chun déileáil leis an bhfadhb ach an bhfuil aon phleananna fadtéarmacha ann chun an soláthar a fheabhsú ar an oileán?

Mr. Des Joyce

Over the past couple of years we have developed a national water resources plan. It is a 25-year strategy for the direction of travel in terms of water supply investment in the country. One of the important pieces of work that was done with that was looking at the sustainability of the supply across the country. A lot of our supplies down the west coast are very small supplies of small lakes and boreholes. Some of them are sustainable but many are not. Out of this national resources plan we will develop more distinct plans depending on which of these have the greatest need in terms of water availability.

We have started work on a much more detailed feasibility study with regard to the three Aran Islands, Inishbofin and Whiddy Island. We are currently scoping that out but the intention would be to develop a long-term plan for how we supply those islands. There is nothing easy about how that is done so we need to take our time in getting it right and look at all the options that are available. In the meantime, we are tankering water out to Inis Oírr twice a day in some cases. Unfortunately, until we deliver this solution that is probably what is going to happen during these peak summer months.

Senator Seán Kyne

Ag dul ar ais ag an easpa scéime sa Cheathrú Rua, tá muid ag caint faoi seo le blianta fada anuas. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil pleananna ag Uisce Éireann agus go bhfuil cuid de na daoine áitiúla ina aghaidh agus go bhfuil próiseas ansin ó thaobh an CPO. An bhfuil na finnéithe sásta go mbeidh dul chun cinn ar an togra sin sa ghearrthéarma agus go mbeidh siad in ann ionad séarachais a thógáil? An bhfuil siad sásta go bhfuil an suíomh ceart acu nó an bhfuil pleananna eile acu chun suíomh eile a fháil?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

Quite a complex set of circumstances have developed in An Cheathrú Rua and we are currently reviewing our options with regard to the best way to move forward to ensure we can complete a project there and deliver a wastewater treatment plant for the community in An Cheathrú Rua. In terms of what those options are and what the immediate results of that are, I cannot say at this time. It is something we can come back to the Senator on after the fact. One of our key priorities is to address the untreated conglomerations and An Cheathrú Rua is one of those.

We will keep working until we have the solution in place.

Senator Seán Kyne

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Dr. O'Reilly.

An Cathaoirleach

Glaoim anois ar an Teachta Farrell.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus lenár n-aíonna as teacht os comhair an choiste. Tá go leor de na ceisteanna curtha cheana féin. Iarraim faoi rud amháin mar ní raibh a fhios agam go dtí cúpla mí ó shin faoi na hionaid fuíolluisce, na cinn atá faoi Uisce Éireann agus na cinn nua nach bhfuil. Is dócha go raibh sé sin sa phlean a bhí i gcónaí ag Uisce Éireann. Bheinn féin buartha, mar a dúirt an Seanadóir Kyne ansin, go bhfuil ceantair thart ar Chonamara agus thart ar an nGaeltacht nach bhfuil na hionaid fuíolluisce atá ag teastáil acu. An bhfuil plean ag Uisce Éireann go mbeidh sé ag obair leo siúd nó an bhfuil sé fós ina phlean go mbeidh Uisce Éireann ag déileáil leo siúd atá ann cheana féin seachas ionaid nua a chruthú? Murar thuig mé an méid sin i gceart iarraim ar ár n-aíonna é sin a rá liom lena dtoil. Is í sin an chéad cheist atá agam.

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist sin. With regard to the unsewered settlements, which I believe is the question the Deputy is asking, and the establishing of new agglomerations and, in effect, new wastewater treatment plants and networks; as I mentioned before, the remit of Uisce Éireann is not in that particular area. We can only service, maintain and upgrade assets where they currently exist. That is the way the current legislation is set up.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

An bhfuil a fhios ag an Dr. O'Reilly cúis an chinnidh sin? Níl luíonn sé le ciall ar bith liom ach b'fhéidir go raibh cineál éigin cúise faoinár socraíodh é sin a dhéanamh. Má tá Uisce Éireann ann, ní thuigim an chúis nach mbeadh cinn nua faoi Uisce Éireann.

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

My short answer to that question is that I do not know and I could not say why the legislation was set up in such a way. We are certainly working with the local authorities and with the Department where these situations arise. The Department is administering the multi-annual rural water programme. Under measure 8 of that programme, it looks to establish new group or wastewater schemes where none previously existed. We are actively involved in technically assessing those and we are assisting the Department from that perspective. On the Deputy’s specific question as to why the system was set up in such a way, I cannot answer that.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

Tuigim é sin agus b'fhéidir gurbh í sin an cheist a chuirfidh mé ar an Aire, nó tiocfaidh mé ar bhealach eile chun an ní sin a ardú. Caithfidh mé a rá nach luíonn sé le ciall domsa ar chor ar bith. Tuigim an méid atá á rá ag an Dr. O'Reilly go bhfuil scéimeanna ann chun an t-airgead sin a chaitheamh. Mar a dúirt an Seanadóir Kyne, nuair a bhreathnaíonn muid ar Ghaillimh - táimid beirt inár gcónaí ansin - is í an fhadhb atá ann ná go bhfuilimid ag feiceáil go bhfuil airgead ann i gcomhair dhá cheann in oirthear na Gaillimhe. Tá sé sin togha agus ar ndóigh teastaíonn na háiseanna seo ó chuile dhuine - níl mé ag rá nach dteastaíonn - ach táimid anseo chun plé a dhéanamh ar cheantair Ghaeltachta. Caithfidh mé a rá go gcuireann sé iontas orm nach bhfuil an t-airgead ar fáil d’áit sa Ghaeltacht. Tuigim anois ón bplé a bhí ann le daoine éagsúla nach bhfuil sé sin faoi chúram Uisce Éireann ach caithfidh mé a rá go gcuireann sé iontas orm nach bhfuil sé sin faoina chúram. Ní thuigim cúis an cinnidh sin.

Chomh maith leis sin, cuireann sé iontas orm mar tá a fhios agam na deacrachtaí atá ann mar gheall ar chúrsaí pleanála, agus mar sin de, mar gheall ar an gcóras séarachais agus na himpleachtaí atá aige sin. Nuair atáimid ag iarraidh breathnú ar cheantair láidre Ghaeltachta agus ag iarraidh a chinntiú go bhfuil daoine in ann a gclann a thógáil in áit Ghaeltachta ionas go labhraíonn daoine Gaeilge, agus mar sin de, cuireann sé an-iontas orm nach bhfuil na hionaid seo faoi chúram Uisce Éireann ach b'fhéidir go bhfuilim go hiomlán mícheart. Ardóidh mé an cheist seo i bhfóram eile. Chomh maith leis sin, cén fáth nach bhfuil an t-airgead ar fáil freisin i gcomhair ceantair Ghaeltachta? Caithfidh mé a rá gur rud polaitiúil é sin agus tá a fhios agam nach féidir lenár n-aíonna aontú liom, fiú amháin má tá siad ag iarraidh é sin a dhéanamh. Ba é sin an chéad rud agus táim an-buartha faoi sin mar tá a fhios agam go gcuireann sé as do dhaoine atá ag iarraidh teach a thógáil agus tá deacrachtaí uafásacha pleanála sna ceantair Ghaeltachta.

Tar éis é sin a rá, bhí an Dr. O'Reilly ag rá ansin go raibh sé chun tuairisc a dhéanamh maidir le hInis Mór. An bhfuil a fhios aige cén uair a bheidh sé sin críochnaithe?

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

The situation on Inis Mór in Cill Rónáin is quite a complex one. We have an existing agglomeration, which is an area within which we have assets such as a sewer network, pumping stations and a treatment plant. The specific one on Inis Mór in Cill Rónáin is quite small and covers a specific part of the settlement in Cill Rónáin. We are now looking at what else is involved from that settlement’s perspective. We understand that there are existing assets within the village itself. We are exploring these with Galway County Council and trying to understand what is there, in the first instance, and what options are there then. It is very early stages with regard to assessment and it is very difficult to put any timeline on it. We are dealing with all of the usual issues with a project but the fact that we are working on an island off the coast makes it even more of a complicated project to deliver. Certainly, it is something we are looking at.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

Tá sé sin suimiúil agus tá a fhios agam go bhfuil deacrachtaí ar leith mar gheall gur oileán amach ón gcósta é.

Baineann an dara ceist atá agam leis na deacrachtaí atá ar Inis Oírr thar oíche mar nach bhfuil daoine in ann uisce a úsáid, agus mar sin de. Tá a fhios againn gach uile bhliain go dtiocfaidh na mílte turasóirí chuig na hoileáin - is dócha go mbeinn féin ina duine díobh - agus an cineál brú a chuireann sé sin ar chúrsaí uisce. Céard é an plean fadtéarmach mar ní féidir a rá gach uile bhliain nach mbeidh an t-uisce á úsáid thar oíche? Céard é an plean nó an fhís atá ag Uisce Éireann chun déileáil leis seo, mar tá a fhios agam agus tuigim go bhfuil go leor airgid i gceist? Bheadh sé sin suimiúil dúinn mar is féidir linn é sin a ardú freisin agus a fheiceáil cén bealach gur féidir linne rud éigin a dhéanamh faoi sin. Cén bealach gur féidir le hUisce Éireann déileáil leis sin?

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

An bhfuil an Teachta ag labhairt faoin cineál infreastruchtúir a bhfuil muid ag smaoineamh a chur san áit sin?

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil sé sách casta mar gheall gur oileán amach ón gcósta atá i gceist.

Mr. Des Joyce

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist sin. Most of the islands have water for most of the year but Inis Oírr, in particular, does not have water all year round. It runs out. The islands, basically, catch what falls out of the sky. Inis Mór tends to be able to have enough water which is caught in underground fissures and cracks, and so forth, which we can use. There are some springs on Inis Meáin. That is not so much the case on Inis Oírr - there is simply not enough water there. We have raw water storage out there so we fill the tanks when the water is there but when it is not there, we have no choice but to provide tankers.

On the long-term vision, we have set about a feasibility study which will look at the three islands, together with Inishbofin and Whiddy Island, which are in a similar situation in that they do not have water all of the time. I cannot say what that vision will be but it could be many things. We will certainly look at whether we can transfer water out there, desalination, whether we can improve the raw water storage that is available, or a mixture of all of these. That study is about to start and we will probably appoint consultants later this year. We have done a good deal of work over there but this is a much more comprehensive review which we will be undertaking to determine what the long-term future for water supply for those islands will be.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

Tá sé sin iontach. An bhfuil a fhios ag Des Joyce cé chomh fada is a thógfaidh sé sin? Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil sé deacair, uaireanta, fios a bheith ag duine cé chomh fada is a thógfaidh tuairisc mar sin a chur i dtoll a chéile. Ar bhreathnaigh Uisce Éireann riamh ar thíortha eile a bhfuil na deacrachtaí céanna acu agus faoin mbealach inar féidir leis na tíortha sin an jab sin a dhéanamh?

Tá a fhios agam gur ceist an-simplí í seo ach cén fáth go bhfuil a dhóthain uisce ar Inis Mór ach níl sé ar Inis Oírr? An é go bhfuil sé mar gheall go bhfuil Inis Mór níos mó? Cén bealach a oibríonn sé sin? Cén fáth nach bhfuil na deacrachtaí sin ar an oileán sin mar go bhfuil na mílte ag dul go Inis Mór freisin?

Mr. Des Joyce

We have problems on Inis Mór occasionally. In 2020 and 2018, we would have been under pressure there but generally speaking we get by through the year. Inis Oírr is the one that is the most acute in terms of water availability around this time of year. We have consulted and we will consult other countries. We have looked at what they have done in places as far away as Australia. We have spoken to Scottish Water. We will be taking a much more in-depth look at this over the next couple of years. In terms of a feasibility study, we are probably looking at two or three years. Regarding the solution that is rolled out there, I cannot say how long it will take. As my colleague, Dr. O’Reilly, has said, our projects generally take five to seven years depending on the value of them. Depending on the complexity of the solution here, it could take that long, or it could be longer. I cannot really say at this moment.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

Tá sé suimiúil is dócha. Níor smaoinigh mé ar an Astráil ach ar ndóigh tá an tír chomh mór sin agus tá oileáin amuigh ansin freisin. Tá sé sách suimiúil. Baineann an cheist eile atá agam leis an fhadhb a bhí ar Inis Bó Finne anuraidh leis an mangainéis. An é sin a bhí i gceist? An gcreideann na finnéithe go mb’fhéidir go mbeadh deacrachtaí mar sin ann arís? B’fhéidir nach bhfuil siad ag iarraidh é sin a rá anois ach cén cineál plan a chuirfidh siad i bhfeidhm chun a chinntiú nach dtarlaíonn sé arís i mbliana nó an rud fadtéarmach é atá ag braith ar an dtuairisc sin?

Mr. Des Joyce

We had a problem with manganese on Inishbofin last year and unfortunately it caused inconvenience to the people on the island. We have improved our treatment system out there and the operations teams worked very hard to clean the pipes and everything afterwards. We are looking to do some more work out there in terms of moving the intake to try to lessen the risk of further manganese. We are probably looking to improve the treatment system out there as well and put in a manganese removal system. Manganese is one of these things that comes from time to time. The risk in manganese can happen very dramatically over 24 hours. Then it might not be seen again for a number of years. We did not have many difficulties on Inishbofin with manganese until last year so we are working to make sure it does not happen again.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

De bharr go raibh sé tirim le fada, an bhfeiceann na finnéithe an tionchar cheana féin ar na hoileáin agus mar sin de? Níl mé ag iarraidh an tír ina iomláine a rá mar tá sé sin iomarcach mar cheist ach an gceapann siad go mbeadh impleachtaí aige sin ar mhangainéis, mar shampla?

Mr. Des Joyce

There has been a spike in manganese cases across the country in the last couple of years, whether it is related to sustained dry periods or not. We are carrying out a separate study on that at the moment and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is also working on that. Within Uisce Éireann and also within other countries, an increase in manganese has been seen. We are working hard to figure out what is causing this and to try to be able to predict it and be able to treat it when it happens.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

Ní raibh mo chomhghleacaí an Teachta Ó Dochartaigh in ann teacht chuig an gcruinniú inniu, ach d'iarr sé orm trí cheist maidir le Dún na nGall a ardú ar fhaitíos go bhfuil na finnéithe á gceistiú féin cén fáth go bhfuilim chomh buartha sin faoi. Tá trí cheist ann. Tá na huimhreacha tagartha agam ach muna bhfuil aon fhreagra ag na finnéithe anseo, b'fhéidir go mbeimid in ann labhairt faoi tar éis an chruinnithe nó rud éigin mar sin. Baineann ceist amháin le Doire Beag. Tá caora laistigh de bhalla atá mórthimpeall ar fhoinse uisce ansin. An bhfuil na finnéithe tar éis breathnú air sin nó iniúchadh a dhéanamh agus an bhfuil réiteach acu ar an gceist? An gcuirfidh mé an trí ceist le chéile nó ar mhaith leo teacht isteach ar an gceist sin?

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Tógfaimid an trí cheist le chéile.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

An dara cheist ná go bhfuil fear Gaeltachta atá 91 bliain d'aois tar éis fógra dlí a fháil ag bagairt an dlí a chur air toisc nár íoc sé bille €70 a fuair sé tamaillín ó shin. Níor thuig sé cad lenar bhain an bille, áfach, toisc nach n-úsáideann sé, agus níor úsáid riamh, an nasc uisce a bhí i gceist. Tuigim go bhfuil oifig an Teachta Uí Dochartaigh ag fanacht ar fhreagra air sin le beagnach mí anuas. An bhfuil freagra ag na finnéithe ar an gceist sin nó an féidir leo brú a chur le go dtiocfaí ar fhreagra?

Ansin, d'ardaigh an Teachta Ó Dochartaigh cás ina bhfuil pumpa nua á lorg sa Choimín, sa Chlochán i nDún na Gall, agus dúirt Uisce Éireann go bhfuil siad ar an eolas faoi agus go bhfuil lománaíocht brú - pressure logging - idir láimhe aige i nGleann Fhinne. An bhfuil an lománaíocht brú sin thart agus má tá, cén bhealach a n-aimsítear sna torthaí réiteach fadtéarma don cheantar go léir i nGleann Finne chun déileáil le soláthar uisce agus le fadhbanna brú? Cén plean agus amchlár atá ag Uisce Éireann chun é sin a réiteach?

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Sula dtagann Des Joyce isteach ar an gcéad agus an tríú cheist, déileálfaidh mise leis an dara cheist faoin fear aosta atá 91 bliain d'aois. Ní dea-scéal é sin a chloisteáil ar ndóigh agus gabhaimid leithscéal leis an bhfear aosta agus lena chlann. Níl sé go deas é sin a chloisteáil ar chor ar bith. Is dóigh an míniú a bheadh air sin ná gur próiseas uathoibríoch a bheadh i gceist ansin gur cuireadh litir bagartha amach mar sin aige. Is éard a dhéanfaidh mise anois ná go gheobhaidh mé na sonraí ón Teachta Farrell agus cuirfimid sin ina cheart i ndiaidh an seisiúin seo.

Maidir leis an gcéad agus an tríú cheist, freagróidh Des Joyce iad sin. Ar mhiste leis an Teachta an chéad cheist a chur arís?

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

Labhraíonn siad Gaeilge dhifriúil agus nílim cinnte faoi na bhfocail. An bealach atá sé scríofa anseo ná go bhfuil caora laistigh de bhalla mórthimpeall ar fhoinse uisce sa Doire Beag. An bhfuil iniúchadh déanta ag Uisce Éireann go fóill agus an bhfuil réiteach aige ar an gceist? Seo rud éigin atá thuas sna Doire Beaga agus is dócha go bhfuil balla timpeall ar an bhfoinse uisce.

Mr. Des Joyce

I am not familiar with the name of the scheme.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Doire Beag, so it is the Gaoth Dobhair one.

Mr. Des Joyce

It may be called a different name.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

I have the reference number.

Mr. Des Joyce

We will get the details off the Deputy and we will take that away.

Regarding the last question on pressure logging, I presume that was to do with areas that may have low pressure. Is that the case?

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

It is to do with An Choimín, sa Clochán i nDún na Gall.

Mr. Des Joyce

Again, I will need to get the specifics from the Deputy on that one and come back on that, if that is okay.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell

No problem. We will do that.

An Cathaoirleach

Tá an Teachta Ó Murchú ag iarraidh teacht isteach faoin mhangainéis.

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú

Tá ceist amháin agam faoin mhangainéis. Tá a lán fadhbanna maidir le mangainéis i nDún Dealgan faoi láthair. Thuairisc mé cheana féin go bhfuil a lán staidéir á dhéanamh ag Uisce Éireann, an EPA agus achan duine eile. Níl daoine cinnte cén fáth a bhfuil níos mó mangainéis san uisce. Maidir leis an bhfadhb atá i nDún Dealgan, deir na finnéithe go bhfuil sé sláintiúil nó mar sin de ach bíonn an t-uisce an-dorcha ar fad ó am go ham. Déantar flushing agus a leithéid. Bhí na finnéithe ag caint faoi scéim nó córas chun déileáil leis an mhangainéis. Bhí siad ag caint le comhairleoirí Chontae Lú agus dúirt bail d'Uisce Éireann go nglacfadh sé roinnt blianta chun an scéim seo a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá mé ag iarraidh a fháil amach cén cineál scéim a bhfuilimid ag caint faoi agus caidé an timeline air mar tá mé rud beag buartha faoi amlíne de chúpla bliain.

Mr. Des Joyce

There have been problems in Dundalk with regard to manganese. As I have said earlier, manganese is one of those things that seem to come very quickly out of nowhere. If the plant is not designed to deal with it, it can be difficult to treat. There are two sides to it. One is the treatment of it and then the manganese gets into the network and it has to be cleaned and all the rest. Due to the type of treatment process we have in the plant, we have no discharge there so we recirculate through the head of the works, which makes it a little more difficult. We are working on a solution there at the moment and are hoping to commence works there.

It is probably a fairly significant amount of work so it could take a number of years to complete that investment in the plant. It is a large plant and it takes time to carry out upgrades to those types of plants. Unfortunately, there is no way around that. At the moment, the monitoring of the water is carried out by Uisce Éireann, the HSE and others. We will be consulting to make sure we stay within safe limits for manganese.

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú

Táim ag iarraidh a fháil amach cén sórt ama atá i gceist. Is dócha nach bhfuil an t-eolas sin ag na finnéithe faoin am seo. Dúirt duine liom cheana féin go bhfuil bealach eile ann chun an clóirín a chur isteach. Is féidir cineál gáis a úsáid. Níl an fhadhb chéanna leis an ngás atá leis an liquid. An bhfuil sé sin ceart? Níl mise cinnte.

Mr. Des Joyce

The manganese goes into solution and what we have to do is to get it out of solution. Without going into too much detail, we oxidise it and change its form so that it becomes a solid again. There are a number of ways to do that. There are different chemicals that can be used. One of them is chlorine. Chlorine is one of these reactive chemicals that, if dosed correctly, can react with the manganese, causing it to drop out. That is one of the approaches we will probably take, whether with-----

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú

Is that not also part of the problem? It is the ceangal or the reaction that causes the darkness, is it not?

Mr. Des Joyce

Not necessarily. The manganese itself-----

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú

It turns it brown.

Mr. Des Joyce

-----tends to give the water a dark colour. Further, if there are cast-iron mains in the network-----

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú

Iron oxide.

Mr. Des Joyce

-----there can be a reaction with those. While it looks bad, the water quality is actually okay. It certainly does not look very nice, however.

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú

Dúirt Uisce Éireann go mbaineann an fhadhb leis an mangainéis seachas le iron oxide ag am seo.

An Cathaoirleach

Tá sé seo ag éirí an-teicniúil agus, from the looks of it, tá Dún Dealgan tar éis bogadh isteach sa Ghaeltacht chomh maith. An bhfuil an Teachta críochnaithe?

Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú

Is dócha go bhfuil. Táim ag iarraidh an timeline a fháil amach. Más rud é go bhfuil duine éigin ábalta an t-eolas sin a thabhairt dúinn i ndiaidh seo-----

Mr. Des Joyce

We will come back to the Deputy with that.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

Níl ach ceist amháin agam mar tá Uisce Éireann chun filleadh orainn leis an eolas mar gheall ar an truailliú sa Laoi, na foinsí agus ról Uisce Éireann ansin. Tá sé ag filleadh orainn chomh maith mar gheall ar an teagmháil a bhí aige leis an EPA i dtaobh an truaillithe i mBéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh agus le heolas faoin bpíobán séarachais atá le hathnuachan i lár an tsráidbhaile. Bhí ábhar á phlé níos luaithe mar gheall ar an líon Gaeilgeoirí atá ar fáil sa call centre. Tuigim go bhfuil thart ar chúigear ar fáil ansin. Tá dhá líne theileafóin ann. Tá ceann amháin don phobal agus tá ceann eile do na hionadaithe pobail. An bhfuil daoine ar fáil do na hionadaithe pobail chun plé leo as Gaelainn? Má tá, an féidir na hionadaithe pobail a chur ar an eolas mar gheall air sin?

Ms Sorcha Heaphy

If I am honest, I do not actually know if people are allocated to both telephone lines. I can certainly find out and it is certainly something we can explore. While it is not often observed, we have a callback service so it is open for anyone who calls the telephone line to opt to be called back and it is possible to specify that the call back be as Gaeilge. I can come back to the Deputy and let him know whether we are in a position to ensure-----

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Mar phointe eolais, bím ag obair sa rannóg chustaiméara a bhfuil an líne sin faoina cúram. Is éard a tharlaíonn go hiondúil ná go dtugtar dualgais do roinnt daoine a bhíonn ag tógáil na glaonna. Is féidir le duine amháin a bheith ar líne na n-oifigeach agus duine eile ar líne na gcustaiméirí ach, maidir leis na cainteoirí Gaeilge, má tá duine ag iarraidh comhrá a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge, brúitear an glaoch ar aghaidh chuig duine a bhfuil Gaeilge aige nó aici, fiú amháin má thagann an glaoch isteach tríd an líne d'ionadaithe pobail.

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan

An bhfuil na hionadaithe pobail curtha ar an eolas faoi sin? Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil. Bheadh sé ina rogha iontach dá mba rud é go raibh an deis againn ár ngnó a dhéanamh as Gaelainn le Uisce Éireann.

Ms Sorcha Heaphy

Is féidir linn féachaint ar an rud sin but I honestly do not know. It is certainly something we can look at. Now that we have been able to enhance the service, we can seek to communicate that with the likes of the members and other community representatives.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Táim chun dul ar ais ag an mbunúdar go bhfuil na finnéithe anseo. Tá sé iontach iad a fheiceáil. Déanfaidh mé iarracht an fhadhb de réir mar a thuigim í a leagan amach go simplí. B'fhéidir go ndéarfaidh na finnéithe liom an bhfuil mé ceart nó mícheart. Ansin, cuirfidh mé chucu réiteach amháin a fheicim ar an gceist.

De réir mar a thuigim, leis an €50 milliún seo, b'údar na ceiste ag an tús ná go bhfuil bailte beaga ar nós Charna, Cill Chiaráin agus mar sin de ar fud na Gaeltachta nach bhfuil aon scéim séarachais iontu, dubh, bán nó riabhach. Tháinig muintir Iorras Aithneach isteach againn agus rinne siad cur i láthair. Is é ceann de na fadhbanna atá ann ná gurb iad cuid de na háiteanna is lú sa Ghaeltacht na háiteanna is treise ó thaobh na Gaeilge de. Luafaidh mé Leitir Mór, Leitir Mealláin, Cill Chiaráin, Corr na Móna, Carna agus mar sin de. Tá eolas ar Richard Ó hEadhra ar chuid mhaith acu seo. De réir mar a thuigim, faoi na critéir atá leagtha amach d'Uisce Éireann ag an Roinn mar gheall ar an €50 milliún do scéimeanna séarachais nua, caithfear na bailte is tréine a dhéanamh i dtosach. Tá Creachmhaoil agus Droichead an Chláirín ag dul i gcruacht ar chuile chluiche. Má bhreathnaíonn muid ar na hoileáin, tá an fhadhb chéanna ann. Ní féidir le Uisce Éireann agus leis na comhairleoirí contae ach na critéir a leanúint. Ag an am céanna, agus is é seo an fáth go raibh mé lochtach go maith ar an bpolasaí oileánda a foilsíodh go gairid, tá polasaí Stáit ann na hoileáin a chaomhnú agus an Ghaeltacht a chaomhnú mar Ghaeltacht. Ó thaobh na Gaeltachta de, ba cheart díriú ar na Gaeltachtaí is láidre i dtosach báire, scun scan ar dhaonra. Tá an dá pholasaí ag teacht salach ar a chéile. Tá an dream atá ag tabhairt an airgid ag rá gur cheart na háiteanna ina bhfuil an daonra is tibhe ag barr an liosta agus obair mar sin.

Tá réiteach ar an gceist a d'oibrigh mé cheana. Tá sé simplí. Ba chóir go gcuirfidh Roinn na Gaeltachta airgead ar fáil as a gcistí féin chun scéimeanna séarachais a chur isteach i gCill Chiaráin, Carna, Leitir Mór agus na háiteanna seo a d'ainmnigh mé. Gheofaí a mhacasamhail i dTír Chonaill. Bheadh critéir ag an Roinn féin bunaithe ar riachtanais agus ar theanga. Dá gcuirfeadh an Roinn maoiniú ar fáil, an mbeadh Uisce Éireann sásta an dearadh agus an tógáil a dhéanamh agus freagracht a ghlacadh as na scéimeanna nuair a bheidís tógtha? Mura dtiocfaimid an bealach seo, ní bhfaighimid aon réiteach. Ar an gcaoi chéanna, dá mba rud é go ndéanfadh rannóg na n-oileán - bhí sé i bhfad níos áisiúla nuair a bhí na hoileáin istigh leis an nGaeltacht ach rinne daoine cinneadh iad a scaradh - den Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail an rud céanna, an mbeadh Uisce Éireann sásta an dearadh, an tógáil agus an rith a dhéanamh nuair a bheidís tógtha?

Sin an t-aon bhealach, dar liomsa. Féadfaidh muid dul timpeall air seo go brách na breithe ach mura ndéanann muid rud éigin mar seo, ní tharlóidh sé. Tá samplaí de rudaí a rinneadh cheana ar an gcuma chéanna agus d’oibrigh siad thar cinn. Cuireadh airgead isteach in áiseanna de bharr go raibh dhá pholasaí ag dul treonna difriúla agus ba an Roinn leis an treo difriúil a chur an maoiniú ar fáil agus ansin rinneadh an obair. Ansin, i gcás na gcéibheanna nua ar fad a tógadh, mar shampla, ghlac an chomhairle contae freagracht astu. I gcás cáblaí leictreacha a cuireadh isteach ar oileáin, chuir an ESB an córas ar fáil ar an oileán mar a dhéanfadh siad le teach ar bith ach is an Roinn a chur isteach an cábla ón mórthír go dtí na hoileáin, ar na hoileáin atá an-bheag. Sin an cheist atá agamsa mar, dar liomsa, sin an t-aon réiteach ar an gceist. Ba mhaith liom barúil na bhfinnéithe a fháil ar a mhacasamhail sin de mholadh.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Tiocfaidh an Dr. O'Reilly isteach leis an bpíosa teicniúil faoi sin. Luaigh an Teachta Ó Muimhneacháin níos luaithe polasaí Gaeilge agus cur chuige mar sin. Déarfaidh an Dr. O'Reilly é seo freisin. Ní féidir le hUisce Éireann ach an obair atá leagtha amach ó thaobh an remit a dhéanamh. Sin atá an Teachta ag lua i ndáiríre. Tá níos mó ná bealach amháin chun craiceann a bhaint de chat. B’fhéidir go mbeadh an Dr. O'Reilly in ann cur leis sin ó thaobh-----

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Níor mhaith liom craiceann a bhaint de chat ach coinnigh ort.

Dr. Edmond O'Reilly

Gabhaim buíochas as an gceist. The Deputy made reference to the scheme that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has been administering under the multi-annual rural water programme and that €50 million fund. We have engaged with the Department on that and have assisted in the tactical assessment of the proposals. Indeed, we have representatives sitting on the expert panel that the Department is chairing. From that programme’s perspective, once any new schemes that arise from that are completed, Uisce Éireann has agreed to take them in charge. The concept is there that if it is funded, Uisce Éireann will take it in charge once it has been built according to Uisce Éireann standards and so forth.

In terms of other funding schemes, I am not at liberty to say what could potentially be in place or who could fund what, but for anything that is built to Uisce Éireann standards, Uisce Éireann, generally speaking, has been of the view it would take it in charge.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Sin freagra an-dearfach. Tá fasaigh ann. Rinneadh a leithéid seo go minic cheana le go leor rudaí. Mura ndéanfar rud éigin mar seo, ní tharlóidh sé go brách. Fiú dá mbeadh €200 milliún sa gciste, fós féin ní thiocfadh Uisce Éireann ag na háiteanna beaga seo. Tá sé chomh simplí leis sin, ar an eolas atá tugtha dúinn. Ag an am céanna, mura ndéanfar é seo, beidh meath ar an nGaeltacht. Tá dhá pholasaí ag teacht salach ar a chéile ach nuair a tharlaíonn sé sin, tá tú in ann déanamh suas dó trí chiste faoi leith a chur ar fáil do Roinn le freagracht faoi leith uirthi agus é a fhágáil fúithi sin. Sin an cás a bhí ag muintir Iorras Aithneach mar chonaic siad a leithéid ag obair cheana féin sa Ghaeltacht. Ní raibh mé ag súil go ndéarfadh na finnéithe go ndéanfadh sé é seo mar ní fhéadfaidh siad ach tá siad ag rá go bhfuil fasach ann agus dá mbeadh an t-airgead curtha ar fáil agus na scéimeanna tógtha, go dtógfadh siad iad faoi chúram. Sin an méid atá le rá agam mar dar liomsa tá sé simplí go maith céard a chaithfidh muid a dhéanamh ó thaobh na n-oileán agus an Ghaeltacht.

Is ceist náisiúnta í an dara ceist atá agam ach baineann sí go láidir leis na ceantair Ghaeltachta mar an fhadhb atá ann ná go bhfuil go leor ceantair iargúlta Ghaeltachta ann atá scaipthe. Má théimse go Conamara, tá pócaí anseo agus ansiúd nach bhfuil aon scéim cheart uisce ann ach go mór mór tá póca mór amháin ann, sé sin, ó chrosbhóthar Ros an Mhíl suas go Seanaféistín agus thart ar 50 teach ann. Tá thart ar 10% de thithe na tíre seo nach bhfuil uisce reatha poiblí iontu, nó tá grúpscéim ann ach formhór dóibh sin tá siad ag caint le hUisce Éireann. Glacaim leis go mbainfeadh an prionsabal céanna leis na scéimeanna uisce ach a ndóthain cumas a bheith sna scéimeanna atá ann cheana féin le hualach breise a iompar. I ndáiríre, má bhreathnaítear ar an 10%, tá siad chomh scaipthe ar fud na tíre nach gcuirfeadh sé brú rómhór ar aon scéim uisce. Do 50 teach i ndeisceart Chonamara, ní sin tada ó thaobh úsáid uisce, go mór mór más scéim nua í agus nach bhfuil mórán sceitheadh ann.

Glacaim leis an bprionsabal, dá gcinneadh an Stát go mbeadh scéim ann ar nós mar atá leis an leathanbhanda, sé sin, scéim náisiúnta le huisce poiblí a chur i chuile theach sa tír, go mbeadh Uisce Éireann sásta go gceanglófaí leis na córais atá aige cheana féin ach a bheith sásta go bhfuil a dhóthain uisce sa soláthar poiblí san áit a bhfuil an ceangal á dhéanamh. B’fhéidir go bhfreagródh na finnéithe an cheist sin. Tá mé ag glacadh leis go dtiocfadh 100% den airgead leis na scéimeanna seo a dhéanamh díreach ón Rialtas agus go mbeadh an scéim ar nós an scéim leathanbhanda, sé sin, go mbeadh cinneadh déanta ag an Stát go bhfuil cúpla rud bunúsach ag teastáil ó chuile theach: bóthar, leictreachas, snáithín optach agus uisce poiblí ceart de chaighdeán. Níl aon amhras ormsa dá ndéanfaí tástáil ar an 10% den phobal atá ag brath ar thoibreacha nó uisce ag teacht ón gcloch agus dá ndéanfaí an oiread tástáil agus a dhéanann Uisce Éireann, ag úsáid na parameters ar fad atá Uisce Éireann ag úsáid, go mbeadh siad gan uisce leath den am ó thaobh caighdeán de.

Mr. Des Joyce

In a similar fashion to what my colleague said on the wastewater side, under the rural water programme we have community water schemes. We are engaging very closely with the Department on the development of community water schemes, which is the project to pipe unpiped areas and bring water to unpiped areas. It is exactly the same way. If the schemes are constructed to our specifications, which is being done, and we have the capacity to take them on from a water availability and treatment capacity point of view, we are happy to take them on. That is ongoing at the moment. Were that to be expanded into Gaeltacht areas and we had the water, I am sure the same would apply.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Sa gcás seo, bheadh muid ag rá go bhfuil an fhadhb seo inláimhsithe go náisiúnta, na Gaeltachtaí san áireamh. Is iad na ceantair iargúlta is measa atá buailte leis seo agus go leor de na Gaeltachtaí i gceist. Tá mé ag rá gur chóir é a dhéanamh ar nós an leathanbhanda agus uisce a thabhairt do chuile dhuine nach bhfuil uisce reatha poiblí acu nó uisce reatha ó ghrúpscéim aitheanta d’ardchaighdeán. Níl an oiread sin i gceist ansin. Tá 10% ag brath ar thoibreacha agus soláthar príobháideach, 87% ag brath ar sheirbhís phoiblí agus céatadán beag ar ghrúpscéimeanna. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil aon eolas ag na finnéithe air seo ach thart ar 15 bliain ó shin bhí scéim ann faoi CLÁR ina raibh muid ag tógáil grúpscéimeanna uisce ar chostas caighdeánach don tomhaltóir. Sé sin le rá, d’íoc siad an méid céanna cuma cé mhéad a chosain an scéim. Cheangal muid na scéimeanna sin ar fad isteach go hUisce Éireann agus rinne sé difríocht ollmhór sna ceantair ina ndearnadh é sin agus go leor ceantair Ghaeltachta san áireamh. Tá na finnéithe ag rá má thógann daoine iad ceart agus de réir na gcaighdeán, rud go gcaithfí a dhéanamh, i bprionsabal, tá siad fabhrach.

Mr. Des Joyce

That is happening currently around the country in different places with those community water schemes. They are being organised through the rural water sections of the local authorities but they are in contact with our own Uisce Éireann colleagues in the new connections teams. They set out the standards we want. That is happening at the moment.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Ag an ráta atá sé ag tarlú, ní hamháin nach mbeidh mé mise ann ach ní bheidh na daoine óga ann sula mbeidh chuile teach ceangailte ach sin scéal eile.

An Cathaoirleach

B'fhéidir gur cheist í don Aire? Is ceisteanna don Aire a lán daoibh seo.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Baineann sé le pleanáil forbartha tuaithe i ndáiríre.

Tá ceist amháin agam ó thaobh an líne teileafóin. Tá cúpla áisíneacht agus línte teileafón acu. Glaonn tú agus deir siad “má tá tú ag iarraidh seirbhís trí Ghaeilge, brú 1 agus má tá tú ag iarraidh seirbhís trí Bhéarla brú 2”. Brúnn tú uimhir 1 cúpla uair cosúil le hamadán agus deir an guth leat: “Is oth liom nach bhfuil éinne anseo. Fág teachtaireacht agus tiocfar ar ais agat”. Tá tusa ag iarraidh labhairt le duine éigin mar sin an dara nó tríú huair, brúnn tú 2 agus tógann tú an rogha Béarla mar tá tú ag iarraidh labhairt le duine beo atá ann le d’fhadhb a réiteach. An féidir leis an finnéithe a rá linn faoin líne teileafón atá acusan, an bhfaightear freagra ó dhuine, ní ó thaifead, chuile uair agus ansin go ndéarfar leat ansin go gcuirfear an glaoch ar aghaidh chuig duine le Gaeilge? An é sin an córas?

Ms Sorcha Heaphy

If the Deputy can imagine, there is a group of agents sitting in the room and they have to cover off a number of hours per day over the course of the week. Our telephone lines are open 24 a day, seven days a week but the vast majority of those calls are going to come in during the standard working day Monday to Friday. There have certainly been challenges for Capita, which is contracted and obliged to ensure we have an Irish-language service offering through the contract we have with it. We have seen instances where complaints have come in to us and there is no shying away from that. We have made huge efforts and we have put time into ensuring the service that is available is improving all the time. What we have seen now is that we have been able to increase the recruitment pool that is available to us, that is the number of physical individuals who are able to provide that voice at the end of the telephone. However, it has to be said that if there is going to be a high volume of telephone calls - in the event of a boil water notice or some other issue - those calls have to be answered. Therefore, a caller might find themselves going down the pecking order list if he or she ended up pressing the number 9 for the Irish line. That is hugely unfortunate but when there is a significantly high volume of calls, the desire is that we engage with as many of those callers as physically possible. What tends to happen when people phone in and brú uimhir 9 - it is not a haon nó a dó for us - is that a person might understandably have a short wait time. I phoned myself this morning before we came into the committee room. The deal is that a person gets connected to an Irish-language speaker who is at the other end of the phone. If that service is not available, for example, if that individual is on another telephone call with another customer, you are given the option to have a telephone call returned back to you and can leave a message to either ask for that return call or join the non-Irish side of the waiting callers. Both options are there.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Má tá seirbhís trí Ghaeilge ar fáil láithreach agus ar chomh-chaighdeán, tógfaidh mé an ceann Gaeilge ach níl mé chun am a chur amú. An cheist atá agamsa ná seo, agus is ceist phraiticiúil í: nuair a ghlaoim ar cibé líne atá tugtha, brúim uimhir 9 agus níl an duine le Gaeilge ar fáil, an bhfuil rogha agam gan an fón a chur síos agus a bheith ag fanacht ar ghlaoch? An féidir liom glacadh le duine le Béarla?

Ms Sorcha Heaphy

Yes.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Tá. Tá dul chun cinn mór déanta freisin. Tá mise ag obair le Uisce Éireann ó 2014 agus ar nós go leor de na háisíneachtaí a bhí poiblí a lua an Teachta, tá go leor dúshlán le daoine le Gaeilge, nó b’fhéidir Gaeilge mhaith, a chur i suíochán ag freagairt gutháin. Tá dul chun cinn mór déanta áfach, go háirithe ó táimid faoi réimse an Achta anois. Tá cúigear fostaithe le Gaeilge agus cumas Gaeilge thar barr acu. Chuir mé féin glaoch cheana freisin an lá cheana le go bhfeicinn. Is dócha má tá níos mó tola ar an seirbhís go mbeidh níos mó daoine á bhfostú. Is múnla maith é seo do na háisíneachtaí Stáit eile freisin.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Glacaimid leis go raibh cúigear ann, agus mar a deir tú, abair go raibh cúig glaoch. Bhí fógra i Leitir Mór agus bhí chuile dhuine ag glaoch. Caithfidh mé a rá ag an bpointe sin go pearsanta go b’fhearr liomsa go gcuirfí ar aghaidh mé chuig duine Béarla ná mé a fhágáil gan freagra. Bíonn deifir orm. Bíonn deifir ar dhaoine i gcónaí agus iad ag lorg freagraí. Má cheapaim go bhfaighidh mé freagra beo i mBéarla, tá Béarla agam, agus geallaim go rachadh mé ar aghaidh leis. Ach b’fhearr liom déileáil le duine le Gaeilge. Má tá srianta air, is cinnte gur bhfearr liom glaoch ar ais. Mar a deirim, in áiteanna eile, an rud a tharlaíonn ná nuair a bhrúnn tú an uimhir ní fhaigheann tú aon rud. Go pearsanta, b’fhearr liom go gcuirfí mé ar aghaidh, sa chás nach bhfuil duine le Gaeilge ar fáil, chuig duine le Béarla ná a bheith fágtha ar an trá fholamh gan freagra.

Ms Sorcha Heaphy

I thank the Deputy again for his question. To reassure him, the option is there. Let us say the phone rings and as he says, he is in urgent need to speak to somebody. The option will be there, if it is not picked up in a speedy manner by an Irish speaker, either to be redirected back to another agent in that instance, or alternatively to leave a voice message to get that call back. Both options are available because the key there is the customer service element.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Tá mé sásta le sin. Is rogha i bhfad níos fearr é sin. B’fhearr go mbeadh an duine le Gaeilge acu ach má chaithfidh tú an dara rogha a thógáil, b’fhéidir go ndéarfadh duine gur féidir glaoch a chur ar ais orthu agus nach raibh aon deifir an glaoch sin a chur.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Rud nua eile freisin, ní hamháin leis na gutháin, ach tá fáil ar leagan Ghaeilge nó ar dhaoine le Gaeilge ar na meáin shóisialta. Tá seirbhís custaiméara againn ar na meáin shóisialta agus is mó duine atá in ann cúrsaí a phlé trí Ghaeilge air sin freisin. Is maith an rud é sin sa lá atá inniu ann.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

An-mhaith, go raibh maith agat. Is é sin an méid atá agam.

An Cathaoirleach

Tá ceist amháin agamsa, nó b’fhéidir gearán amháin. An bhféadfadh na billí a bheith dhátheangach? Eisítear na billí go minic i mBéarla. Bhíomar ag caint faoi duine éigin i dTír Chonaill. Glacaim leis go bhfuair sé an bille i mBéarla. Má tá tú á lorg i mBéarla, caithfidh tú dul trí rigmarole. Sin mar a dúradh liomsa. Ní fhaighim aon bhillí. Bhuamar an cath sin i mBaile Átha Cliath blianta ó shin. Ní thagann billí Uisce Éireann chugainn ach tá billí i gceist thíos faoin tír. Tá sé éasca do gach uile comhlacht eile iad a dhéanamh mar bhillí dhátheangach. Iarraim ar na finnéithe féachaint air sin.

Mr. Richard Ó hEadhra

Sula dtagann Sorcha Heaphy isteach, tá a fhios agam go raibh dúshláin againn le sin cheana. Aon duine atá ag iarraidh bille trí Ghaeilge, agus an cheart sin acu ar ndóigh, cuirtear sin ar fáil dóibh. Bhí roinnt botúin agus cásanna mí-oiriúnacha ó thaobh an tseirbhís a chuireamar ar fáil ach geallaimid go bhfuilimid ag streachailt le sin agus go mbeidh na fearais cuí curtha i bhfeidhm againn chomh luath agus is féidir. Beidh níos mó sonraí ag Sorcha Heaphy ó thaobh rudaí teicniúla atá á dhéanamh againn air seo.

Ms Sorcha Heaphy

In the opening statement, the Cathaoirleach will have seen reference to the work we are putting in to ensure we are on the right side of the as-yet uncommenced elements of the Act. We are already working towards improving our IT systems to accommodate the fada and the various different elements and in particular, work is ongoing with regards to our forms. On the bills, there currently is no obligation on Uisce Éireann to provide dual-language bills, that is in Irish only or in the Gaeilge agus Béarla. However, certainly where we are requested to do so by a customer, and in most instances now it is not our domestic but the non-domestic customers, the businesses, we endeavour to send those bills out. Sometimes, it does not go quite right. However, absolutely, if there is a particular instance we would be more than happy to look at it in detail.

An Cathaoirleach

Níl éinne eile le cur le seo. Mar sin, is féidir linn críoch a chur leis an seisiún seo. Mo bhuíochas libh ar fad as ucht a bheith linn agus na ceisteanna a fhreagairt. Gabhaim buíochas le Richard Ó hEadhra, an Dr. Edmond O’Reilly, Des Joyce agus Sorcha Heaphy as ucht bheith linn inniu. Toisc nach bhfuil aon ghnó eile againn, cuirim an cruinniú seo ar athló go dtí an Céadaoin seo chugainn ag 1.30 p.m. i seomra coiste 4 nuair a phléfear na teagmhálacha agus na hidirghníomhaíochtaí éagsúla a bhíonn ar siúl idir an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus cainteoirí agus eagrais Ghaeilge thar lear, mar aon leis an tacaíocht a thugann an Roinn sin dóibh.

Cuireadh an comhcoiste ar athló ar 3.40 p.m. go dtí 1.30 p.m., Dé Céadaoin, an 28 Meitheamh 2023.